Where to Go Birding in Arkansas

Arkansas has a lot going for it as a birding destination with three million acres of public land, two major migratory flyways, and diverse habitats that draw species year-round. With its mix of southern and midwestern habitats, The Natural State has opportunities that serious birders travel for, whether you're chasing rare sightings or birdwatching as part of a vacation.

Public Lands

A high percentage of biodiversity for nesting birds is associated with the Ouachita National Forest and the Ozark National Forest, which combined cover three million acres.

Additionally, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission oversees more than 100 Wildlife Management Areas across the state. Nine AGFC Nature Centers offer birding components and are great places to stop for regional birding information.

More than 50 Arkansas State Parks, all with free entry, round out the options, adding more habitat variety and easy access points across the state. Park interpreters help visitors spot everything from vultures to warblers, with programming that includes bird hikes and even bird bingo.

Migratory Paths

More than 400 bird species may be seen in The Natural State throughout the seasons. Arkansas sits within two major migratory corridors. The state's eastern border lies within the Mississippi River Flyway, and western Arkansas falls at the edge of the Central Flyway. The two paths bring a wide range of species through the state.

Winter draws waterfowl along the Mississippi Flyway, along with Trumpeter Swans at Magness Lake outside Heber Springs and Smith's Longspurs at the Stuttgart Airport. Loons and bald eagles congregate in the cold around lakes statewide. The yellow-bellied sapsucker also winters in Arkansas.

Spring brings waves of migrant songbirds to places like Lake Fayetteville in Northwest Arkansas, and warblers arrive in large numbers at Village Creek State Park in eastern Arkansas. Mount Magazine, the state's highest peak at 2,753 feet, is known for being home to the rare rufous-crowned sparrow, which sings heavily in spring but is mostly quiet the rest of the year. Neotropical songbirds nest on the mountain throughout the summer.

By late summer and early fall, Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills appear in the Delta wetlands and parts of south Arkansas. Blue-winged Teal can be spotted July through November on their way to South America for winter.

And somewhere out there, the elusive Ivory-billed Woodpecker is still thought by some to exist deep in the state’s most remote bottomlands.

Birding Vacations and Basecamps

Birding pairs naturally with just about any Arkansas trip, whether you’re immersing yourself in nature or seeing city sights.

The Buffalo National River is ripe for birding as well as canoeing and hiking. The Razorback Regional Greenway, a 40-plus-mile trail corridor threading through several cities and pastoral areas in Northwest Arkansas, is a great place for birding and biking.

Visitors to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville or the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville will find good birding in each city's green spaces. Lake Fayetteville alone has a recorded list topping 250 species.

Similar urban and rural combinations are available throughout the state, with lodging options ranging from tent camping and cabins in the woods to downtown hotels.

Check out this list of hotspots and basecamps to plan your next birding vacation in Arkansas:

• In Hot Springs, the October Birding Festival of the South is a celebration of the fall bird migration with field trip opportunities, panels, workshops, music, and other activities for all levels of birders. Hot Springs offers 26 miles of trails in Hot Springs National Park and more than 30 miles at Northwoods Trails, all backed by 1.8 million acres of Ouachita National Forest. Round it out with 210 acres of botanical gardens at Garvan Woodland Gardens, the specialized ponds at the Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery, and thousands of acres of shoreline across Lakes Hamilton, Catherine, Ouachita, and DeGray.
• Accessible year-round, the out-and-back trail to Mirror Lake near Mountain View in the Blanchard Springs Recreation Area leads you to great birding, fishing, hiking and a waterfall. While you're there, explore the picturesque remnant of an old mill building constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Then head back to Mountain View for music on the square. Stay at Ozark Folk Center State Park cabins, where you can explore the park’s crafts village, dine in the restaurant, and hear live music.
• Migrating pelicans are a common sight at the Arkansas Nature Center in Little Rock, the state’s capital. While in a walkable, downtown setting, the center is also on the banks of the Arkansas River flowing along the city’s northern border. Enjoy birdwatching and kayaking the river in the morning, followed by shopping, dining and nightlife in the afternoon and evening. You can also take a day trip to nearby Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, one of the state’s best overall birding sites with more than 270 species spotted there.
• Seven miles southwest of the college town of Fayetteville, the Woolsey Wet Prairie Sanctuary’s 46-acre site has tallgrass prairie and a list of more than 200 species. Other significant birding areas in Northwest Arkansas are the Betty Hinshaw Bird Sanctuary in Tontitown and the Charlie Craig State Fish Hatchery in Centerton.
• Visit Crowley’s Ridge in eastern Arkansas for migrant songbirds such as warblers and tanagers in spring and summer breeding species, like Mississippi Kite and Red-shouldered Hawk. Stay in Marianna and take Ark. 44 south to the St. Francis National Forest for more birding. While in Marianna, check out Delta Dirt Distillery and have some James Beard award-winning barbecue at Jones Bar-B-Q Diner. Head north to Jonesboro for more birding in the mixed woodland of Craighead Forest Park, a popular local park with trails and playgrounds.

Tips for Birding in Arkansas

• AGFC recommends birders carry a field guide or phone app to help with bird identification.
• Binoculars, such as a pair of 7x35 or 8x42, help you get a closer look without being weighed down.
• If birding during hunting season, wear brightly colored clothing or a blaze-orange vest for safety, and double-check that the area is not restricted to non-hunting visitors. During the summer, use bug protection.
• To gather up-to-date tips for birding in Arkansas, seek advice from birding resources, such as arbirds.org or ar.audubon.org.
• Visit eBird.org/region/US-AR to see hotspots and bird sightings in The Natural State by county and month.
• Birders keeping a checklist can take part in the AGFC’s Wings Over Arkansas program, which rewards birders with a decorative pin and certificate that identifies their level of birding experience.